Human Stories. Global Impact.
Scottistani Productions is Zara's independent impact filmmaking initiative, creating cinematic documentaries for charities and non-profit organisations around the world.
Every two years, Zara self-funds a humanitarian film project, partnering with organisations whose work aligns with her values and donating the entire production process - from development and directing to self-shooting, editing and delivery.
The films are designed not simply to tell compelling stories, but to raise awareness, strengthen fundraising and leave charities with world-class assets they can use long after filming ends.
Zara was recognised with a United Nations Women Award for this work and was also awarded the Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International's highest honour, recognising individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to humanitarian service.
Scottistani Productions exists for one purpose: to harness the power of documentary filmmaking to create measurable social impact.
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Award-Winning Documentaries
Created in Nepal, Tanzania and Guatemala
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Direct Funds Raised
Directly attributed to fundraising campaigns featuring the films
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Estimated Social Value Created
Through volunteer time, donated services, partnerships and resources unlocked
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Lives Directly Impacted
Individuals who received support through programmes enabled by the films
Stories That Make a Difference
the films
A Spirited Journey (2020)
A Spirited Journey was the inaugural documentary produced by Scottistani Productions, created in partnership with Australian charity Seven Women and filmed across Nepal in 2020,
The film follows a group of international supporters as they travel through Nepal to witness first-hand the extraordinary impact of Seven Women's social enterprise model. At its heart are the remarkable Nepalese women whose lives have been transformed through education, vocational training and sustainable employment, many overcoming disability, discrimination and extreme poverty to become financially independent and leaders within their communities.
Completed just months before the COVID-19 pandemic brought international tourism to a standstill, the documentary became far more than a film. It was used to host paid online screenings and live Q&As with audiences around the world, helping generate vital income at a time when traditional fundraising had all but disappeared.
Funds supported vocational training programmes and educational scholarships for girls from remote villages, giving many the chance to continue their education and reducing their vulnerability to child marriage and human trafficking.
A Spirited Journey won Best Documentary at the Global Tourism Film Festival and was selected for Pinewood Studios Lift Off Festival.
Closer To Heaven (2022)
In 2022, Scottistani Productions partnered with CHAS (Children's Hospices Across Scotland) to create Closer to Heaven, a documentary filmed over ten days during a charity expedition to Tanzania to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, the world's highest freestanding mountain.
Self-shot by Zara while ascending to Uhuru Peak (19,341ft), the film follows bereaved parents climbing in memory of the children they have lost, exploring grief, resilience and shared purpose.
At the heart of the documentary are families supported by CHAS, including Simon and Steph Allen, whose daughter Mia died from Infantile Batten disease. Through intimate interviews filmed on the mountain, the documentary offers a deeply personal insight into life after the death of a child, while highlighting the vital role CHAS plays in providing palliative care, hospice services and ongoing bereavement support for families across Scotland.
Created to support CHAS's fundraising and awareness campaigns, Closer to Heaven has been used to promote the charity's work and inspire support for families facing the unimaginable.
The documentary premiered at the Global Tourism Film Festival in Canada, where Zara was honoured with a Female Filmmaker Award.
The Gift of Reading (2024)
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In 2023, Scottistani Productions travelled to the rural highlands of Guatemala to produce a feature documentary for The Guatemala Literacy Project, a long-running partnership between Rotary International and Cooperative for Education that is to break the cycle of poverty through education.
The film explores the barriers that prevent many young people from accessing education and follows the life-changing impact of literacy programmes, teacher training and scholarships .
It follows the presidential visit of Jennifer Jones, Rotary International's first female Global President, as she meets the students, teachers and communities whose lives have been transformed by the project. It also features Grammy Award-winning Guatemalan singer-songwriter and United Nations Ambassador Gaby Moreno, alongside the voices of students, educators and volunteers.
Before the film's release, Zara was invited to present the project to an audience of more than 14,000 delegates at the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, where the trailer received its world premiere. The completed documentary premiered in the Cayman Islands in 2024 at a major fundraising event supporting the Guatemala Literacy Project.
Zara's contribution to the initiative was recognised with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, Rotary's highest honour for service.
How We Work
From first conversation to final delivery, Scottistani Productions manages every stage of the filmmaking process, creating compelling documentaries and campaigns that leave charities with powerful assets long after filming ends.
Strategy & Story
Every great documentary begins long before the camera rolls. we work closely with organisations to develop the narrative, define objectives, plan logistics, identify contributors and shape a film that delivers both emotional impact and measurable results.
Filming & Direction
Working as a solo filmmaker or with a trusted crew where required, I direct interviews, capture cinematic visuals and document authentic moments with minimal intrusion, building trust with contributors to tell stories honestly and beautifully.
Editing & Craft
Stories are made in the edit. From colour grading and sound design to music, graphics and subtitles, every frame is carefully crafted into a compelling film that engages audiences and communicates your mission with clarity.
Launch & Legacy
A film should work long after its premiere. I help charities maximise impact through trailers, social media edits, fundraising assets, campaign films and festival submissions, ensuring every project continues creating value for years to come.
Support the Mission
In 2027, Scottistani Productions will return to Guatemala to document the next chapter of the Guatemala Literacy Project, before travelling to Romania to produce a new humanitarian film exploring the fight against human trafficking.
Every film is independently funded and created in partnership with charities at no cost to them.
If you'd like to help make these stories possible, buying me a coffee is a small gesture that makes a real difference. Every contribution helps cover equipment and production costs, allowing us to keep creating films that put impact before profit.
waterbear network
Continuing the theme of social impact and following her work with the New York Times at Cop26, Zara developed Challenge the Gap as a Creative Producer for the WaterBear Network, the 'Netflix of Nature' founded by Academy Award-winning director of My Octopus Teacher. Presented by Paul Black, this sustainability film spotlights Glasgow's circular economy pioneers and the innovators redefining how we produce, consume and reuse.
